Ford Fusion Hybrid Gets 1,445 Miles on Single Tank of Gas.
PRESS RELEASE:
FUSION HYBRID AVERAGES 81.5 MPG, SETS WORLD RECORD WITH 1,445 MILES ON SINGLE TANK OF GAS
The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid 1,000 Mile Challenge Car
- Drivers trained in mileage-maximizing techniques achieve 1,445 miles on a single tank of gas in a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid – averaging 81.5 mpg in Washington, D.C. – and set world record for gasoline-powered, midsize sedan
- The Fusion Hybrid 1,000-Mile Challenge proves that fuel-efficient driving techniques can nearly double a vehicle’s EPA-rated fuel economy
- The demonstration of the Fusion Hybrid’s ultra high-mileage potential also raised more than $8,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
WASHINGTON, April 28, 2009 – Drivers trained in mileage-maximizing techniques such as smooth acceleration and coasting to red lights were able to get an extraordinary 1,445.7 miles out of a single tank of gas during a fund-raising effort in Washington, D.C. that concluded today. They did it by averaging 81.5 miles per gallon in an off-the-showroom floor, non-modified 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, the most fuel-efficient midsize car in North America – nearly doubling its U.S. certified mileage.
The Fusion Hybrid 1,000-Mile Challenge started at 8:15 a.m. EDT on Saturday, April 25, from Mount Vernon, Va., and ended this morning at 5:37 a.m. on George Washington Parkway in Washington, D.C. After more than 69 continuous hours of driving, the Fusion Hybrid finally depleted its tank and came to a stop with an odometer reading of 1,445.7 miles – setting a world record for gasoline-powered, midsize sedan.
The challenge team, which included NASCAR star Carl Edwards, high mileage trailblazer Wayne Gerdes and several Ford Motor Company engineers, raised more than $8,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) by exceeding the goal of 1,000 miles on a single tank of gas. The Fusion Hybrid’s official estimated range is approximately 700 miles per tank.
“Not only does this demonstrate the Fusion Hybrid’s fuel efficiency, it also shows that driving technique is one of the keys to maximizing its potential,” said Nancy Gioia, director, Ford Sustainable Mobility Technologies and Hybrid Vehicle Programs. “The fact that we were able raise much needed funds for JDRF while raising the bar on fuel efficient driving performance made the effort doubly worthwhile.”
Maximizing mileage
A team of seven drivers prepared for the challenge by learning a few mileage-maximizing techniques, most of which can be used in any vehicle to improve fuel economy, but are especially useful in the Fusion Hybrid where the driver can take advantage of pure electric energy at speeds below 47 mph.
CleanMPG.com founder Wayne Gerdes, an engineer from Illinois who coined the term “hypermiling” to describe the mileage-maximizing techniques, provided the pointers. They include:
* Slowing down and maintaining even throttle pressure;
* Gradually accelerating and smoothly braking;
* Maintaining a safe distance between vehicles and anticipating traffic conditions;
* Coasting up to red lights and stop signs to avoid fuel waste and brake wear;
* Minimize use of heater and air conditioning to reduce the load on the engine;
* Close windows at high speeds to reduce aerodynamic drag;
* Applying the “Pulse and Glide” technique while maintaining the flow of traffic;
* Minimize excessive engine workload by using the vehicle’s kinetic forward motion to climb hills, and use downhill momentum to build speed; and
* Avoiding bumps and potholes that can reduce momentum
“You become very aware of your driving because you’re constantly looking for opportunities to maximize mileage, and a more aware driver is a safer driver, too,” said Gil Portalatin, Ford hybrid applications manager.
In addition, it is important for Fusion Hybrid drivers to manage the battery system’s state of charge through the use of regenerative braking and coasting, and balancing the use of the electric motor and gas engine in city driving to avoid wasting fuel.
Fusion Hybrid drivers also can stay more connected to the hybrid driving experience with Ford’s SmartGaugeTM with EcoGuide, a unique instrument cluster that helps coach drivers on how to optimize performance of their hybrid.
The Challenge
The Fusion Hybrid 1,000-Mile Challenge team took turns driving several routes in and around the national capital over the course of approximately three days and nights. The route involved elevation changes, and ranged from the relatively open George Washington Parkway to a 3-mile stretch in the heart of the city that is clogged with roughly 30 traffic signals.
“The Fusion Hybrid works brilliantly,” Gerdes said. “When you don’t need acceleration power while driving around town, the gas engine shuts down seamlessly. There’s not another hybrid drivetrain in the world that does that as effectively. The Fusion engineering team really knocked it out of the park.”
Ford NASCAR star Carl Edwards took time away from the high speed world of professional car racing to contribute to the Fusion Hybrid team’s success in D.C.
“It was exciting to be an active part in this challenge. The fact that it will help spread the word about the Fusion Hybrid’s great mileage, and help out a great charity, makes it even more special,” said Edwards, whose ‘99′ team has used fuel-saving techniques to win races. “There’s no question that the Fusion Hybrid will help consumers save fuel when they drive it. Having driven the car, I feel strongly about how great it is – so strong that I’ve purchased one myself.”
Source: Ford
If this is possible then why can NOT the other 2 make cars like this. All 3 auto manufacturers SHOULD have been required to make vehicles of this caliber 10 years ago as well as the other auto makers in the world!!
Basically because ten years ago, no one except Toyota thought they could make money off of cars like this.
To date, i think, Toyota has lost money on the prius.
Great demonstration, but the 20.86 MPH speed average is rather low. Still, it shows that if you usually commute on slow roads and short distances with good capabilities of regenerative braking usage, you might buy only a half a dozen tanks of gasoline a year. Not bad for a full size comfortable car.
My accord idles at almost that speed. I know because I had to do that to get by one of those speed cameras the other day. If I even brushed the accelerator I was speeding.
Any car will go a long distance if you just turn on to a road and let it idle. Pretty silly “demo”. I’d call it “fraud” in advertising. It might con a few people into buying it, who will then be highly disappointed later.
Mkkby, I don’t think it is fraud to drive on 30-35 mph roads, stop at lights and stop signs and end up with a 21 mph avg. That is what many of us experience everyday who don’t commute on highways. Sounds like you need to get your Honda repaired; idling at 20 mph is a problem requiring too much braking and higher rpms than your engine should be experiencing.
I’m looking forward to the new Fusion Hybrid. My neighbor works for Ford and I keep encouraging him to get in with the Hybrid program because that is the future.
I recently wrote a blog on how to improve mileage no matter what type of car you drive. Filling up your tires is easier than you once thought:
http://blog.mapawatt.com/2009/04/19/put-some-air-in-your-tires/
They did have cars ten years ago under Clinton, he gave them millions to com up with the next generation car, under the Partnership for a New General of Vehicles program. GM made a 80-100 mpg car, flat out said they will not make the car, and that no one would buy it. Between that and the EV1 that they crushed instead of selling it to tho lease owners, I vowed never to buy a gm vehicle ever. So the people not under the PNGV, who did not get millions, Honda and Toyoda, came out with their own hybrids and brought them to the Market in 2000. I have owned a Honda Insight since then and never looked back. Thank God or Japan.
Hybrids will never be worth the money. It takes about 10-15 years to finally get your money’s worth out of it. Plus, hybrids use electrically-powered accessories like power steering, a/c, the water pump, etc. People have had problems with these things. I will never be one. If I wanted good mileage, I’ll just get a motorcycle with a 250cc motor. My neighbor has one and he gets about 80mpg on the highway. I don’t know of many vehicles that can top that.
Hybrids will never be worth the money? MSRP on an Insight is $19,800, MSRP on a Civic LX is $18,855. Sorry Dave, but your 10-15 year payback was valid years ago, but is not true today. Non-hybrid cars are also beginning to use electrical-powered accessories. Soon the only way you’ll be able to avoid the “problems” with such systems will be to drive an Amish buggy.